Garment having engineered lace zones

ABSTRACT

Examples of a garment having engineered lace zones are disclosed. The garment comprises a lace panel that forms at least a portion of the garment and that has a first engineered lace zone and a second engineered lace zone. The first engineered lace zone has a first structural property and the second engineered lace zone has a second structural property.

This application claims priority from and the benefit of the filing dateof U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/983,194, filed Feb. 28,2020, and the entire content of such application is incorporated hereinby reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to the field of garments, and morespecifically, to a garment for sporting activities, exercise, and thelike that has engineered lace zones.

BACKGROUND

Athletes and consumers are demanding high performance activewear andsportswear, such as for example, sports tights. Currently, most sportsgarments are made by cutting and sewing together fabrics havingdifferent structural properties to provide different levels of pressuresensation in different areas of the garment. However, such garmentstypically have limited ornamental designs (or looks) and typically havea number of seams located throughout the garment that may causechaffing. In addition, making such garments typically involves greaterfabric waste and increased labor and manufacturing costs.

SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION

In one aspect, a garment having engineered lace zones is provided. Thegarment comprises a lace panel that forms at least portion of thegarment and that has a first engineered lace zone and a secondengineered lace zone. The first engineered lace zone has a firststructural property and the second engineered lace zone has a secondstructural property.

In addition to the aspects and embodiments described above, furtheraspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to thedrawings and study of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Throughout the drawings, reference numbers may be re-used to indicatecorrespondence between referenced elements. The drawings are provided toillustrate example embodiments described herein and are not intended tolimit the scope of the application. Sizes and relative positions ofelements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Forexample, the shapes of various elements and angles may be not drawn toscale, and some of these elements may be arbitrarily enlarged andpositioned to improve drawing legibility.

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an example of a garment havingengineered lace zones.

FIG. 2 is a rear view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a rear view illustrating an example of a garment havinggradually changing engineered lace zones.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are front views illustrating example garments havingengineered lace zones and having reflective yarn incorporated therein.

FIG. 6 is a left side view illustrating a leg panel of the examplegarment of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 are front, side, and perspective views illustratingtwo example lower body garments having engineering lace zones extendingfurther up the legs.

FIGS. 10, 11, 12, and 13 are front, rear, and perspective viewsillustrating an example upper body garment having engineering lacezones.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, details are set forth to provide anunderstanding of the application. In some instances, certain structures,techniques, and methods have not been described or shown in detail inorder not to obscure the application.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a garment 10 having a lace panel 12 thatincludes two or more engineered lace zones 14. The garment 10 may be apair of sports tights (or a sports tight). Of course, the garment 10 maybe any other athletic or sports garment such as a bra, top, shirt,jacket, pants, shorts, etc., without departing from the scope of theapplication. The garment 10 has a front side 11, as illustrated in FIG.1, and a rear side 13, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The garment 10 furthercomprises a waistband 15 and first and second (or right and left) legs16, 17.

The lace panel 12 is shaped and sized to cover at least a portion of awearer's body (e.g., the wearer's legs, a portion of the wearer's torso,etc.). The lace panel 12 comprises multiple (e.g., three) engineeredlace zones 14, such as a first engineered lace zone 14 a, a secondengineered lace zone 14 b, and a third engineered lace zone 14 c.Persons skilled in the art will understand that the lace panel 12 canhave two zones or more than three lace zones without departing from thescope of the application. Each of the engineered lace zones (e.g., 14 a)has a respective structural property that differs from the structuralproperty of the other engineered lace zones (e.g., 14 b, 14 c). Thestructural property of the engineered lace zones 14 can be changed bychanging the yarn fed into the machine used to knit the lace, changingthe gauge (looser or tighter gauge), or by changing the knit structure.For example, the first engineered lace zone 14 a can be knitted with athicker yarn or combination of yarns, or with a tighter gauge or thickerknit construction, or any combination thereof, so that it provides afirst amount (or level) of pressure (e.g., sensation, compression, etc.)on the skin of the wearer. The third engineered lace zone 14 c can beknitted with thinner yarn/yarns having a looser gauge or knit structure,so that it provides a second amount (or level) of pressure which is lessthan the first amount of pressure of the first engineered lace zone 14a. In addition, the third engineered lace zone 14 c can include a meshthat improves breathability or ventilation within the zone 14 c whileproviding a lower amount of pressure on the skin of the wearer. Thesecond engineered lace zone 14 b can be knitted so that it provides athird amount (or level) of pressure that is greater than the secondamount of pressure provided by the third engineered lace zone 14 c butless than the first amount of pressure provided by the first engineeredlace zone 14 a. According to one embodiment, transitions betweenengineered lace zones 14 a, 14 b, 14 c are seamless. For example, in theillustrated example of the garment 10, the first engineered lace zone 14a can be positioned in the thigh area, the second engineered lace zone14 b can be positioned in the knee and upper calf area, and the thirdengineered lace zone 14 c can be positioned in the lower calf and anklearea.

Persons skilled in the art will understand that the engineered lacezones 14 can have different sizes and shapes and can be positioned indifferent parts of the garment 10 without departing from the scope ofapplication. For example, where the garment is a shirt, an engineeredlace zone providing a greater amount of pressure can be positioned inthe abdomen area or across the back (for posture control) of the garment10. In addition, the garment 10 can have more than one fabric panel 18(as described below).

The engineered lace zones 14 can be knitted from a yarn or thread madefrom a material such as Lycra™, spandex, nylon, elastane, polyamide,polyether-polyurea copolymer, polyester, cotton, wool, silk, forestbased fibres, etc., that can provide stretch and shape retention and isquick-drying, sweat-wicking, smooth, and soft. In one embodiment,Cordura™ yarn can be added to increase the durability of the garment 10.In some embodiments, thermal yarn can be added to provide the wearerwith a warming or cooling sensation, or reflective yarn can beincorporated to increase visibility of the wearer at night. In someembodiments, waterproof or water-resistant yarn can be used to knit thelace panel 12.

The garment 10 further comprises a fabric panel 18. For example, thefabric panel 18 can cover the pelvic area of the wearer's torso. In oneembodiment, it can also extend to the upper portions of the legs 16, 17.The fabric panel 18 can be knitted with a structural property that isdifferent than that of the lace panel 12. For example, the fabric panel18 can be heavier and/or thicker than the lace panel 12 and can providean amount a pressure that can be greater than the amount of pressureprovided by the engineered lace zones 14. The fabric panel 18 can beconnected or attached to the lace panel 12 by sewing or bonding. In theexample garment 10, the fabric panel 18 is sewn to the lace panel 12thereby defining a seam 19.

FIG. 3 shows another example of a garment 100 having a lace panel 112.The garment 100 is a tight or pair of tights. The lace panel 112 extendsfrom a waistband opening 115 all the way through the legs 116, 117forming the entire garment 100. The density of the lace panel 112gradually changes along the length of the garment 100. For example, theupper part of the lace panel 112 near the waistband opening 115 can beknitted with a thicker yarn or combination of yarns, or with a tightergauge or thicker knit construction, or any combination thereof, formingan engineered lace zone 114 a. The engineered lace zone 114 a can coverthe pelvic area (encircling the waist and splitting to cover the upperthigh area of each leg 116, 117), such that the increased thickness ofthe lace panel 112 in the engineered lace zone 114 a makes the garment100 less transparent in that area. The lace panel 112 structure isengineered so that its thickness gradually decreases down the legs 116,117. In one embodiment, the garment 100 can further comprise a fabricpanel 118. The fabric panel 118 can be an inner liner (e.g., innershorts) positioned under the engineered lace zone 114 a. In oneembodiment, the fabric panel 118 can be connected or attached to thelace panel 112. For example, the fabric panel 118 and the lace panel 112can be connected along an edge of the waistband opening 115.

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 illustrate further examples of garments 200, 201having an engineered lace panel 212 with multiple engineered lace zones214 as described above. A reflective yarn or yarns is added to knit atleast a portion of the lace panel 212 forming reflective portions 220 ofthe garment 200, 201. A structural property of the reflective portions220 can differ from one another. For example, the structural property ofa reflective portion 220 can be the same as the structural property ofthe engineered lace zones 214 where the reflective portion 220 islocated. In some embodiments, the structural property of all of thereflective portions 220 can be the same and the structural property ofthe reflective portions 220 can be different from the structuralproperty of the engineered lace zones 214.

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 illustrate further examples of lower body garments700, 900 (e.g., tights) having an engineered lace panel 712, 912 withmultiple engineered lace zones 714, 914 as described above. As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the engineering lace panel 712 may extend further up thelegs 16, 17 of the garment 700 to join the fabric panel 718 at or abovethe hips. The lace panel 712 may include engineered lace zones 714forming a leopard-like pattern having spots 714 a positioned on abackground 714 b. The structural properties of the spot and backgroundportions 714 a, 714 b may be different. For example, the backgroundportion 714 b may be sheer, transparent, or translucent. As shown inFIG. 9, the engineering lace panel 912 may extend further up the legs16, 17 of the garment 900 (e.g., to the hips or above) and may extendover or incorporate the fabric panel 918. The lace panel 912 may includeengineered lace zones 914 forming a striped or wave-like pattern havinglines or waves 914 a positioned on a background 914 b. The structuralproperties of the line and background portions 914 a, 914 b may bedifferent. For example, the background portion 914 b may be sheer,transparent, or translucent.

FIGS. 10, 11, 12, and 13 illustrate an example of an upper body garment1000 (e.g., a bra) having an engineered lace panel 1012 with multipleengineered lace zones 1014 as described above. The engineering lacepanel 1012 may include portions of the straps and back panel of thegarment 1000 and may extend to, extend over, or incorporate the fabricpanel 1018 of the front panel, side panels (or wings), and underbustband of the garment 1000. The lace panel 1012 may include engineeredlace zones 1014 forming various patterns of mesh or sheer 1014 a, 1014b. The structural properties of the mesh portions 1014 a, 1014 b may bedifferent. For example, the mesh portions 1014 a of the straps may havesmaller openings formed therein than the mesh portions 1014 b of theback panel.

While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the presentapplication have been shown and described, it will be understood, thatthe scope of the application is not limited thereto, since modificationscan be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeof the present application, particularly in light of the foregoingteachings. Thus, for example, in any method or process disclosed herein,the acts or operations making up the method/process may be performed inany suitable sequence and are not necessarily limited to any particulardisclosed sequence. Elements and components can be configured orarranged differently, combined, and/or eliminated in variousembodiments. The various features and processes described above may beused independently of one another, or may be combined in various ways.All possible combinations and subcombinations are intended to fallwithin the scope of this application. Reference throughout thisdisclosure to “some embodiments,” “an embodiment,” or the like, meansthat a particular feature, structure, step, process, or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in some embodiments,” “inan embodiment,” or the like, throughout this application are notnecessarily all referring to the same embodiment and may refer to one ormore of the same or different embodiments. Indeed, the novel methods andsystems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms;furthermore, various omissions, additions, substitutions, equivalents,rearrangements, and changes in the form of the embodiments describedherein may be made without departing from the spirit of the application.

Various aspects and advantages of the embodiments have been describedwhere appropriate. It is to be understood that not necessarily all suchaspects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particularembodiment. Thus, for example, it should be recognized that the variousembodiments may be carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizesone advantage or group of advantages as taught herein withoutnecessarily achieving other aspects or advantages as may be taught orsuggested herein.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,”“might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically statedotherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, isgenerally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, whileother embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/orsteps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended toimply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required forone or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarilyinclude logic for deciding, with or without operator input or prompting,whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to beperformed in any particular embodiment. No single feature or group offeatures is required for or indispensable to any particular embodiment.The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like aresynonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and donot exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and soforth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not inits exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a listof elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements inthe list.

Any example calculations, simulations, results, graphs, values, andparameters of the embodiments described herein are intended toillustrate and not to limit the disclosed embodiments. Other embodimentscan be configured and/or operated differently than the illustrativeexamples described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sports garment having integrated engineeredlace zones, comprising: a lace panel forming at least a portion of thegarment and having a first engineered lace zone and a second engineeredlace zone, the first engineered lace zone having a first structuralproperty and the second engineered lace zone having a second structuralproperty.
 2. The sports garment of claim 1, wherein a transition betweenthe first and second engineered lace zones is seamless.
 3. The sportsgarment of claim 2, wherein the first structural property is formed by afirst combination of one or more types of yarns, knit stitchconstruction types, and/or lace gauges and the second structuralproperty is formed by a second combination of one or more types ofyarns, knit stitch construction types, and/or lace gauges, and whereinthe first structural property is different than the second structuralproperty.
 4. The sports garment of claim 3, wherein the first engineeredlace zone provides a first amount of pressure and the second engineeredlace zone provides a second amount of pressure.
 5. The sports garment ofclaim 4, wherein the first amount of pressure is greater than the secondamount of pressure.
 6. The sports garment of claim 1, further comprisinga fabric panel connected to the lace panel.
 7. The sports garment ofclaim 6, wherein the fabric panel is connected to the lace panel bysewing.
 8. The sports garment of claim 6, wherein the fabric panel isconnected to the lace panel by bonding.
 9. The sports garment of claim6, wherein the fabric panel has a third structural property that isdifferent than both the first structural property and the secondstructural property of the lace panel.
 10. The sports garment of claim9, wherein the fabric panel provides a third amount of pressure that isdifferent than both the first amount of pressure and the second amountof pressure.
 11. The sports garment of claim 1, wherein the lace panelfurther comprising at least one additional engineered lace zone joinedto at least one of the first engineered lace zone and the secondengineered lace zone by a respective seamless transition and having astructural property defined by a combination of one or more types ofyarns, knit stitch construction types, and/or lace gauges, thestructural property of the additional engineered lace zone beingdifferent than both the first structural property and the secondstructural property.
 12. The sports garment of claim 11, wherein the atleast one additional engineered lace zone provides an amount of pressurethat is greater than the second amount of pressure of the secondengineered lace zone but less than the first amount of pressure of thefirst engineered lace zone.
 13. The sports garment of claim 1, whereinthe engineered lace zones change gradually along a length or width ofthe garment.
 14. The sports garment of claim 1, wherein the engineeredlace zones form a repeatable pattern.
 15. The sports garment of claim 1,wherein the lace panel comprises a reflective yarn incorporated therein.16. The sports garment of claim 1, wherein the garment is a sports tightor pair of sports tights.
 17. The sports garment of claim 1, wherein thegarment is a sports shirt.
 18. The sports garment of claim 1, whereinthe garment is a sports bra.